The New York Times tours director Roland Emmerich's Knightsbridge apartment and finds a stuffed zebra, a 25ft Mao, giant murals painted by the man who reproduced the Louvre's art works for The Da Vince Code and...

... dioramas with scenes of notorious events like the actor Hugh Grant’s encounter with a Hollywood prostitute and the torture that took place at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. “People can spend an entire evening discussing a film,” [interior design] Mr. [John] Teall said, explaining what some might consider obsessive attention to detail. “I liked the idea that a house might inspire the same” reaction.

More here.

Technorati Tags: design, interiors, London, property, real estate

A six-bedroom house on Gloucester Road... and the former home of J.M. Barrie, author of Peter Pan. Barrie is believed to have been living at the house when he wrote the book, and the house has several interesting original features... the original sink in the bathroom, a dumb waiter. It's with Foxtons, here, with a guide price of £6.75m.

If these walls could talk... Biba edition [September 13, 2007]

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate

I have friends in New York and, like Londoners, they like to talk apartments. But when it comes to property in our capital city, they just don't get it. A two-bedroom, one reception room, single floor home without a garden for... £1.85m. How does that happen? It's all about the quest for the original, the quest for character in a city packed with hidden gems. Lantern House is in Elvaston Mews, one of the last in London with an actual working stable. It's close to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. There's nothing else like it. Particulars, here.

Tomorrow, Chelsea mansion.

The Particulars - what's this about?

The New York Times's Great Homes section runs a special Knightsbridge feature. Mentioned in the doomsday book, close to Harrods, close to Harvey Nicks, village atmosphere, old Bentley's parked in the street, tall ceilings, big rooms, communal gardens... the Americans love it. There's an entertaining little slide show; and they focus on a Lowndes Square home, on the market at just over five and half million dollars. The lounge is lovely. The kitchen, too. But look at the bedroom... wouldn't you think about clearing some of the rubble of the tables? Opening the curtains? Removing the weird wall decorations? Come on, it's not like it's cheap.

Thanks to the loyal Rat and Mouse reader who tipped us off to this story in today's Telegraph even before we got there ourselves. Apparently, Lane Fox have just sold a house in Knightsbridge that you would think left little room for improvement, fresh, as it was, from a £3 million renovation (including, they say, a £125,000 shower room). But the new owners clearly have very exacting standards, because it's all coming out and the house is about to get a total, bottom-to-top, refit. The Telegraph suggests scouring Knightsbridge skips. Don't bother. We're planning on making friends with the builders.